250,750 MINERS IN ARMS. DECREASE 1N COAL OUTPUT FOR WAR YEAR.. The loss of output of coal in the United 'Kingdom over the .first twelve months of the war, state the Coal Mining Organisation Commit tee in their second report, issued last night, as compared with .the like pre-war period, was 29,924,727 tons, or a decrease of about 11 per cent. This loss is not as great as antici pated, "owing, we believe, to the effect of the remedial measures taken to mitigate loss due to deoletion of labour." Over the period August, Septem ber, and October, 1915, the output was greater than in the like period of 1914 by 1,500,000 tons. The fall ing off compared with the same months in 1913 was 7.250,000 tons. The number of enlistments over the first 13 months of the war* was 250,750, and of these 56,850 had en listed during March to August, 1915, inclusive. Taking into considera tion the amount of labour which had come into the mines, the loss of la bour amounted to nearly 16 per cent. The committee...

FIRE IN PICTURE THEATRE Hobart, Jan. 8. A fire occurred at the Palace Pie. ture Theatre, Hobart. at about 9.30, when some 400 or 500 people were seated. A -film caught alight, and this, together with the contents of the fireproof room, was totally de. stroyed. The fire spread to the manager's office, where the lining of the room was damaged, and to the floor of the dress circle, imme diately above the operating room,. The people kept calm, and the theatre -was cleared without any one being hurt, the orchestra play. ing. until all were outside. As the fire was prevented from spreading by the asbestos lining of the opera. tor's *room, the brigade had no difficulty in .subduing the outbreak. The operator was burnt about the arms.

PRICE OF BREAD * Melbourne, Jan. 8. Senator Russell, fhe Honorary Minister in charge of price fixing, is ho'ding an inquiry into the mak ing of regulations regarding the price of bread. An,auditoi' is now' ,engaged in investigating the opera-. tions.of certain bakers, with the ob _;jt df ascertaining whether fair p$fits are. being realised. On re ceipt of the auditors' ,report which is expected in .a few days, enator Russell will, - it is expected, an nounce his decision, which may. be in the direction of a slight increase in the Victorian price of bread. There may also be sTight increases: in South Australia and Tasmania. Printed and .L.blished , . i~ Hocking, for the proprietors, Hocking and Co.. I.tla.. .ft I;i,"Ir Printing Offices. IfnIannantrr.. Kalgoorlie. and. Burt-street. I?oun ier.